Automatic safety switch



Dec. 22, 1936. i w. M. GARDNER 2, I KUTOMATIC SAFETY SWITCH Filed March5; 1955 15 i7 l3 l7 |5- INVENTOR i WLUL'am M.Gardn67 W Patented Dec. 22,1936 OFFICE AUTOMATIC SAFETY SWITCH William Mackie Gardner, Drumheller,Alberta, Canada Application March 5, 1935, Serial No. 9,482

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in an automatic safety switch foruse in the electrical circuit of an automobile. The object of theinvention is to eliminate the possibility of fire caused through brokenlive wires and ruptured gas lines or gas tanks should an automobile bein a collision or turn over.

A further object is to provide a device to automatically break theelectrical circuit of an automobile should the said automobile turnover, thereby stopping the engine and preventing fire or further damageto either the automobile or the occupants thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a device thatwill require no attention, is absolutely fool proof and will not wearout.

With these and other objects in view that may appear while thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in the novel constructionand arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically set forth,claimed, and shown in the accompanying drawing forming part of thisapplication and in which- Fig. 1 is a sectional view through my improvedautomatic safety switch showing the position of the weight member innormal position and dotted in the position when car is tipped.

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view showing a modification thereof havingfoot operating means added thereto.

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram showing where the switch is inserted in thecircuit.

Referring more in detail to the drawing in which similar referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views itwill be seen the invention comprises a casing ID of suitable insulationmaterial having a circular interior and being rounded in the top H andhaving a convex bottom l2 with a recess l3 in the center thereof.Extending upward into this central recess [3 are two spring contactprongs 14 positioned in grooves [5 in a manner to permit slight movementto the upper ends thereof. The lower ends are rigidly secured and extendthrough the case to receive the terminals iii of the circuitconnections. In the alternate view of Fig. 2, the ends of the prongs areshown in grooves I! along the bottom of the casing to the circuitterminal IS.

The casing [0 may be made in sections or constructed with a top l8 forassembly purposes. A lead weight I9 having a concave recess 26 in thebottom thereof is positioned freely within the interior of the casing.Said weight is designed to fit within the inner bottom of the casing ina manner to be retained in position by the sides thereof. As will beseen the weight is of greater dimension at the bottom, the side beingtapered into conical formation with the top.

rounded ofi, or it may be constructed as a half sphere with a partiallyconcave bottom. Secured in the center of the said concave recess 20 anddepending therefrom is a copper contact plug 2! which may be threadedand screwed into the Weight or it may be moulded therein. The said plug2! is designed to contact the prongs I l when the device is in itsnormal resting position and thereby complete the circuit through thedevice. In operation the device is mounted out of the way on the chassisof the automobile, the bottom thereof being in alignment with thechassis when on the level. Should the automobile become oil the level atan acute angle the weight will immediately tip over and the plug will bewithdrawn from the contact prongs thereby breaking the circuit. Due tothe circular construction of the weight the device will operate nomatter which way the automobile tilts, whether sideways orlongitudinally.

Manual operation is likewise provided for the device and comprises aplunger 22 having an insulated contact roller 23 in the end thereofarranged to move vertically in a slot 24 in the bottom of the casing.Said plunger is pivotally connected to a lever arm 25 pivoted in abracket 26, and said lever arm is in turn pivoted to a rod 2'! to beoperated by hand or foot from the' interior of the automobile. Thisdevice provides means to quickly disconnect thebattery circuit shouldany trouble such as short circuits occur while the automobile is on thelevel.

It is believed that the operation, construction and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the foregoing description in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing.

While the preferred embodiment of the structure has been disclosed it isunderstood that the top and having a concave bottom to register with thesaid convex moundof the casing, a plug of conductable metal dependingcentrally from the concave bottom of the said weight adapted toenter-said recess to contact both electrical contact elements andcomplete the circuit therebetween when the device is level, and meanswhereby the said weight may be tipped upward manually and thereby breakthe circuit at will.

2. In a safety switch as described comprising an insulating casinghaving a convex mound in its inner bottom and a centrally disposedrecess therein, electrical contact elements in said recess, a weightpositioned in said casing, said weight having its sides taperingcentrally toward the top and having a concave bottom to register withthe said convex mound of the casing, a plug of conductable metaldepending centrally from the concave bottom of the said weight adaptedto enter said recess to contact both electrical contact elements andcomplete the circuit therebetween when the device is level, a plungerreciprocally mounted through the bottom of said casing to engage thebottom of said weight and lever means actuating the plunger to raisesaid weight and break the circuit.

3. In a safety switch as described comprising an insulating casinghaving formed in its inner bottom a convex mound having a centrallydisposed recess therein, electrical contact elements in said recess, afreely tiltable weight disposed in said casing in straddling relation tosaid mound and an electrical contact plug depending from the center ofsaid weight adapted to enter said recess and engage the electricalelements therein whensaid casing and weight are level.

WILLIAM MACKIE GARDNER.

